Pocatello businesses come together to deal with issues

A group of small business owners in Pocatello have been meeting to help their businesses take the next step.

It was started by David Robles, who’s been running his casket-making business Bannock Pride since 2002. While he’s got a handle on everything in his wood shop, Robles struggled to catch up with new technologies for the business-side of things.

“I ended up taking a (program training) course, which lead to another course,” Robles said. “By the time I knew it, I had finished 22 courses.”

As he struggled, he began to think he couldn’t be the only one experience this.

“There must be an easier way,” Robles said. “(Talking) with other people who have already been through the process and have mastered the concept.”

So he helped bring other entrepreneurs in the area together. In these hour and a half meetings, attendees talk about their businesses and challenges they face. From there, others can provide feedback on how to best approach the issue– from better business plans to using new online tools.

Scott Stephens initially contacted Robles to offer a location for their meetings. Stephens, who has a history of small business coaching and consulting, now is an active member of the group.

He says collaboration is key since most small business owners work alone.

“When you’re a small business owner, you’re kind of on an island,” Stephens said. You’re by yourself in a lot of ways. You might be a husband-and-wife team, you might have a partner, but a lot of small business owners don’t.”

The group meets every first and third Monday of the month. They welcome any small business owners to attend.

For more information, you can contact Robles at 208-241-2630 or Scott Stephens at 208-241-5209 or at scott@stephensdevelopment.org.